Cogmed Newsletter #3, December 2006

The CHADD conference held last month was a great experience. It was exciting to meet so many of you and make new contacts as we roll out our solution in the U.S.

We received much interest for Dr. Klingberg’s and Maria Andersson’s presentations, and the Cogmed booth was busy throughout the confe- rence. Now we are focusing all our efforts on expanding the network of clinics that are licensed to provide Cogmed Working Memory Training. We want to bring this service closer to you.

Dr. Klingberg, founder of Cogmed, awarded the Philip’s Nordic Prize 2006
Today Dr. Klingberg, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute and one of the founders of Cogmed, was awarded the Philip’s Nordic Prize 2006 for his research about working memory training for children with ADHD. The prize recognizes outstanding research in the field of Neuropsychiatry and was presented by the Norwegian royal princess Märtha-Louise at the Rikshospital in Oslo, Norway. Klingberg thanked his research group and said that the prize would help further the important research he is spearheading in his department at Karolinska.

Cogmed welcomes four experienced clinics in our network
With four new Cogmed-qualified clinics in the network, there are now 16 places in the U.S. offering Cogmed Working Memory Training. The four new clinics are based in Pasadena and Long Beach, California; Roswell, Georgia; and Beloit, Wisconsin. You can find a full list of psychologists and clinicians offering Cogmed’s training in the U.S. at www.cogmed.com.

Dr. Gibson from Notre Dame University presented study at CHADD
At CHADD, Dr. Bradley Gibson and his collaborators presented the first independent replication in the U.S.. Using Cogmed’s working memory training in children with ADHD, Gibson found significant improvements of both working memory and other executive functions, and significant decreases in inattention, with effect sizes as large, or larger, as those previously published by Klingberg et al. (2005)

Initial clinical evaluations of US trainings show great results
Currently, about 1,200 children and teens have completed Cogmed’s training program in Scandinavia and Switzerland. Since the summer, when Cogmed Working Memory Training was introduced in the U.S., approximately 100 children and teens through out the states have gone through the program. An evaluation of their training results shows that they validate earlier research and clinical results. Behavior ratings (the DSM-IV scales) filled in by parents show significant improvement of attention and a decrease in hyperactivity/impulsivity. Using the BRIEF form, which measures executive functioning, the evaluation also revealed significant improvements on the working memory index. Please contact us at Cogmed if you are interested in the full evaluation report.

Sustained effects one year after training
At Cogmed and at all the clinics in our network, we closely evaluate training results for all users. A part of the evaluation is a follow up on sustained effects. Our latest follow up was done through telephone interviews with parents or training aides of 38 children and teens one year after completing Cogmed Working Memory Training. The program is 80% effective and of the group that benefits from training, 36% answered that effects after training were sustained. As many as 43% reported an increase in effects one year after training. 21% said that the effects had decreased. When asked about the need for special tutoring at school, 39% answered that this need had decreased one year after training. The interview was extended by administering behavior rating scales, which also showed a continuing and ongoing decrease of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity since completing training one year ago.